Name: Creamy Shrimp Penne Pasta
Ingredients: 300–350 g (≈ 10–12 oz) penne pasta (or pasta of your choice); Salt — for pasta water; 300–350 g (≈ 0.75 lb) shrimp, peeled and deveined — medium or large; 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (for shrimp); 3–4 cloves garlic, minced; ½ small onion, finely chopped (optional); 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version); ½ cup chicken broth (or seafood broth) — optional, helps loosen sauce; ½ to ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or to taste); 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or more, to garnish); 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional — brightens flavor); Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; Optional add-ins: a pinch of red pepper flakes, chopped spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, or peas

Description

This Creamy Shrimp Penne Pasta combines tender shrimp, al dente penne, and a silky, flavorful cream sauce — rich, comforting, and easy to make. It’s perfect for date nights, weeknight dinners, or whenever you want a satisfying, seafood-pasta dinner that feels a little special.

Ingredients

Scale

300–350 g (≈ 10–12 oz) penne pasta (or pasta of your choice)
Salt — for pasta water
300–350 g (≈ 0.75 lb) shrimp, peeled and deveined — medium or large
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (for shrimp)
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
½ small onion, finely chopped (optional)
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version)
½ cup chicken broth (or seafood broth) — optional, helps loosen sauce
½ to ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or to taste)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or more, to garnish)
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional — brightens flavor)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional add-ins: a pinch of red pepper flakes, chopped spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, or peas

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add penne and cook until al dente (check package instructions).
Reserve about ¼ cup pasta cooking water (in case you need to loosen sauce), then drain pasta and set aside.

2. Cook the Shrimp

While pasta cooks, heat olive oil (or butter) in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and sauté 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.

3. Sauté Aromatics

In same skillet (reduce heat to medium), add a bit more oil or butter if needed.
Add chopped onion (if using) and sauté until softened (~2–3 minutes).
Add minced garlic and sauté 30–45 seconds until fragrant — don’t let garlic burn.

4. Make the Cream Sauce

Pour in heavy cream (and broth if using). Stir gently and bring to a low simmer.
Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth.

5. Combine Pasta, Shrimp & Sauce

Return cooked shrimp to the skillet.
Add the drained penne pasta. Toss everything carefully to coat pasta and shrimp evenly with creamy sauce.
If sauce seems too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water or broth to loosen.
Stir in lemon juice (if using) and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust salt/pepper.

Notes

Shrimp cooks quickly — overcooking makes it rubbery, so watch closely.
Use medium heat when melting cream and cheese — too high and sauce can split or get grainy.
Add pasta to sauce right after it’s drained — hot pasta helps sauce cling better.
Save a bit of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.